?Chapter 252:


    Everyone watched Elliott’s posture and immediately assumed Thea had already wormed her way into the Hubbard family’s good graces. But the Hubbard security detail didn’t so much as twitch. What the hell was happening here? Wasn’t Thea meant to be the future mistress of the Hubbard estate? Why did the Hubbard family’s security guards ignore herpletely?


    A hush of confusion settled over the onlookers, their uncertainty mirrored on Thea’s face. She was just as thrown off.


    “Are you all deaf? Didn’t you just hear Elliott? He said to follow my instructions!” Thea snapped, her re bouncing from one unmoved guard to another, all of them standing stone-faced and unbothered. What was wrong with these people? Were they deliberately ignoring her? Once she and Elliott were married, she swore she’d teach them a lesson herself.


    Biting back her growing fury, Thea wiped the irritation from her face and spun toward Elliott. Her eyes shimmered with manufactured vulnerability, her voice as syrupy as honey. “Elliott, just look at them…”


    Elliott’s stare could’ve frozen water. He swept a razor-sharp gaze across the line of guards, his voice slicing through the tension. “Do it.”


    Thea’s chest swelled with a surge of satisfaction. A triumphant smile broke across her face as she shot a gloating look at Christina and Eloise, her eyes glittering with smug delight. Who would have believed it? She had actually caught Elliott’s attention!


    But before Thea could fully bask in her imaginary victory, a pair of security guards suddenly seized her arms. She went rigid, her mind struggling to process what was happening before she erupted in outrage. “Are you people deaf or blind? Elliott told you to grab the two tramps over there, not me! Throw those two out—do you hear me? I’m—”


    She bit back the rest of her words, barely stopping herself from dering her future as Mrs. Hubbard in front of the entire crowd. Elliott would despise that kind of arrogance.


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    Elliott’s gaze locked onto her, cold and razor-sharp. “And what are you, exactly?”


    Her bravado crumbled in an instant. “I—I just… That’s not what I meant,” she stammered, her voice suddenly small. “I was just passing along your instructions. Elliott, these people—how dare they ignore your orders? You really should have someone look into their backgrounds. Maybe they’re spies sent by your family’s enemies!”


    A faint, mocking smile touched Elliott’s lips. “Whether they’re spies or not isn’t your business. The one who needs to be thrown out is you.”


    At this, Thea’s jaw dropped in utter disbelief. The entire crowd erupted into whispers, stunned by what they’d just witnessed.


    Those gathered gripped their wine sses a little tighter, ncing nervously around as Elliott’s words echoed through the hall. Had they overlooked something crucial? How could he flip sides so suddenly and without warning? A wave of relief swept through them—at least they’d kept their distance and hadn’t rushed to support Thea, or else they might be the ones being dragged out.


    Thea forced herself to steady her voice, anxiety prickling beneath her calm veneer. “Mr. Hubbard, what do you mean by this?” she queried, suddenly careful, her cockiness evaporating.


    Elliott didn’t so much as nce her way. “You don’t get to pass judgment on my sister’s appearance,” he stated, every word carrying the weight ofmand. The authority in his tone left no room for protest.


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